We are back all you fellow degenerate gamblers! This is the Over/Under and we are here to break down, preview, and handicap who you can plunk this week’s paycheck down on to stack that sweet… sweet… Cash!
The SHOW?
Its been since Wrestlemania since the WWE’s alternative brand came to us LIVE. First thing that stands out and has the interwebz all a twitter on Twitter? “THE END?!?!” What do you mean, Trips?! WHAT’S THE END?! IS NXT OVER?! ANSWER US?! The news of the Brand Split coming only fuels the fire and drama surrounding this particular name for a Takeover. It COULD be as simple as this is “The End” for the Main Event title feud between Samoa Joe and Finn Balor, but? More on that later.
BUT?! What’s in a name, amirite? Lets get to the goods.
HOW WE GOT HERE?!
Tye Dillenger, NXT’s resident Perfect 10, and guy who has kind of filled that Tyler Breeze function, only less successful from a wins and losses standpoint. He’s super popular with live crowds. I’ve seen him as a relative unknown in Philly and the crowd was LOVING him by the end of his match. He requested a match on Takeover with Kingly Man’s Man Commish Regal, and Mr. Regal was happy to oblige.
Andrade “Cien” (that’s 100 for those rusty on their Espanol) Almas, who I think was wrestling as “Manny Andrade” on live shows, and came to us from Mexico and was a luchador as La Sombra. His vignettes are a masked wrestler watching classic lucha. Ending with him taking the mask off. So we have a nice debut spot for Andrade.
FAVORITE(s)!
Andrade “Cien” Almas: -400. Its a debut, and a hyped one at that.
UNDERDOG(s)!
Tye Dillenger: +300. Its nice he’s getting a spot on Takeover. But? The Perfect 10 is gonna be down for a 3.
PROP BET(s) O’ THE MATCH!
Who’s more over? Dillenger -250. Andrade +100.
Over/Under: 7:14
HOW WE GOT HERE?!
Both newer talents, who’s in ring (Televised) debuts came at Takeover. Both won. Nakamura debuted with a Match of the Year contender against Sami Zayn. Aries wrestled a good match, beating Baron Corbin. Aries got mixed up with Blake and Murphy and so they had a tag match where A-double got to pick a partner. He chose? Shisuke Nakamura. They won. Had a little tension/friction during the match. An in ring with each wrestler staking claim to a future title shot. So Regal made us an awesome match!
FAVORITE(s)!
Shinsuke Nakamura: -300. Nakamura is white hot. Crowds are so into him. I see big things in his very near future.
UNDERDOG(s)!
Austin Aries: +150. Not impossible for the greatest man that ever lived, to win here, but he is an underdog.
PROP BET(s) O’ THE MATCH!
Match of the Night? No: -100. YEAOH! +150.
Over/Under: 1.5 “This is Awesome” chant.
HOW WE GOT HERE?!
At Takeover: Mania Edition, American Alpha had a great tag team championship match that crowned new Champions. In the aftermath of that, American Alpha kept rolling, and the Revival went on a warpath. Attacking other teams. Laying waste to people, but even lost to Gargano and Ciampa, which was interesting. So we get our first of two rematches from Takeover. American Alpha is super popular and the Revival, is aptly named, throwback and I think wildly underrated. This is a match I’m really looking forward to.
FAVORITE(s)!
American Alpha: -120. I think American Alpha retains. I think this is the most “toss up” match. I could see it going either way, but I think American Alpha is a SLIGHT favorite.
UNDERDOG(s)!
The Revival: +100. I feel like if there is a 2x champion walking out of this show? Its more likely to be Finn, than the Revival. That along with the length of the reign to date for AA makes me think The Revival come up short.
PROP BET(s) O’ THE MATCH!
American Alpha Ring Gear: Steiner Bros -250. Team Angle -100. Demolition: +1200.
The Revival Fist to Flip ration: 100/0 -400. 50/50 +100 20/80 +1650
HOW WE GOT HERE?!
In Dallas Asuka dethroned Bayley. In the shows after, Asuka continued to roll. Nia Jax managed to “take Bayley out”, and a triple threat between Jax, Alexa Bliss, and Carmella, ended with Nia Jax being named #1 Contender for the Women’s Championship. NOW… if you go back pre-Mania? Nia and Asuka had a few run ins and a couple stare downs Asuka saved Bayley from a Nia/Eva Marie beat down. So there is a little more history there between these two. Plus this is a very interesting match up for Asuka. Very interested to see how this plays out!
FAVORITE(s)!
Asuka: -280. I can’t see the Empress losing her championship. She’s rolling strong. Possibly the only people with a faster ascents through NXT are Nakamura and Owens. She continues to roll.
UNDERDOG(s)!
Nia Jax: +140. Though it will be odd to see Jax lose a 2nd title match, at least it won’t be to the same competitor, and the fact that she injured, and has effectively kept Bayley OFF Takeover? Her star is on the rise.
PROP BET(s) O’ THE MATCH!
Over/Under -2.5 Hip attacks from Asuka
Bayley Chants? Yyyyyup -400. NO! Full Sail will be respectful! +180.
HOW WE GOT HERE?!
Since Takeover: London these two have battled and battled and battled. Finn won again at Takeover: The MANIA, and then in a cool twist, Samoa Joe beat Finn Balor at a Live Show! So now things ramped up even MORE. They are brawling and battling on and off TV. Its gotten to the point where Regal is fed up and makes one final match between these two. Its THE END for these two’s epic tale. Sprinkle in that it’ll be fought inside a steel cage? A first for NXT… and this is gonna go down!
FAVORITE(s)!
Samoa Joe: -130. A bit of a tossup. I could easily see either guy winning. I’m gonna stick with Joe partly because I think Shinsuke wins and headlines Takeover: Brooklyn 2. I think Joe vs. Nakamura is that match. *Pauses for drooling*
UNDERDOG(s)!
Finn Balor: +100. Could be a 2x NXT Champion. I have no idea what the brand split means for all this.
PROP BET(s) O’ THE MATCH!
Blood? HEEEELLLLLL NO! -320. Of course! +130.
What is Finn doing off the top of the Cage? Splash: -200. Flippy Stuff: -100. Double Stomp: +140.
Match O’ The Night: Sure -400. Nope +200.
In Summation!
Another solid card coming from NXT. Doesn’t quite have the buzz of the past 3-4 Takeovers. Still a great night of wrestling action! Looking forward to it! Enjoy and gamble smart!
Til the next time, you can follow my wrasslin’ musing on Twitter: @sirmhayesxiv.
